Geneva Motor Show: 10 cars to watch for

A model sits in an Alfa Romeo 4C during the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in Geneva.

PHOTO: SEBASTIAN DERUNGS, AFP/Getty Images

By John LeBlanc, Postmedia News

Originally published: February 27, 2013

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Along with Detroit in January and either Frankfurt or Paris in the fall, the annual Geneva Motor Show is considered one of the “big three” events on the auto show car circuit. So it’s no surprise, then, there have been the usual sneaks, peaks and leaks leading up to this year’s show’s media days that start March 5.

As usual, we’l’ be on hand. But until then, these are the expected Geneva debuts that have intrigued us:

10. Volvo

The Swedish brand has fallen off the radar since being picked up from Ford by China’s Geely Automotive in 2010. But Volvo is using the Geneva show to relaunch itself with facelifted existing models, like the S60 sedan, ahead of four all-new models arriving in 2014: the XC90 crossover, S80 sedan, V80 wagon and C80 2+2 coupe. More interesting, and despite the brand’s upmarket aspirations, Volvo has banned V6 and V8 engines going forward, instead opting for four-cylinder mills only and possibly diesel. Will luxury customers buy into the “new” Volvo?

9. Qoros

Western new car buyers have been promised Chinese cars before, but none have been able to make an impression of any kind. But the new sedan, wagon and crossover models that will pop up at the Geneva show from Qoros look like they may have a shot. A joint venture between Chinese automaker Chery and the Israel Corporation investment company, Qoros management is chock-a-block with former senior execs from Volvo, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Saab.

8. Toyota FT-86 Open concept

How do you follow up one of the most talked about new cars in recent history? That’s the question has to answer in Geneva with the Toyota FT-86 Open concept, a convertible version of the compact, rear-wheel-drive sports car sold in Canada as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. Aimed right at Mazda’s MX-5 Miata, speculation sees the Toyota convertible keeping its tiny pair of rear seats and using a fabric top for space-saving purposes.

7. 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

The very first Corvette in 1953 was a convertible, so we knew when the all-new hardtop version of Chevrolet’s legendary sports car was unveiled at this year’s Detroit auto show, an open-air version was soon to follow. General Motors has confirmed the convertible version of the base model Stingray will debut in Geneva. What we don’t know is what it will look like, if the roof will be fabric or metal or if there will be any powertrain differences than the hardtop coupe’s 450-horsepower V8.

6. Spyker Cars B6 concept

Its new B6 concept heading to Geneva is a mere sideshow to the circus the Dutch boutique supercar Spyker Cars has become. After failing to keep Saab alive, former Spyker CEO Victor Muller is bringing the cash-strapped company back to the Swiss show after a two-year absence. Speculation sees the B6 either as: a) an evolution of previous Spykers (like the C12); b) a less-expensive, higher-volume Porsche 911-fighter; or c) something from Saab’s phantom Phoenix platform that Spyker still owns the rights to.

5. 2014 Alfa Romeo 4C

Like Sweden’s long-gone Saab, Italy’s Alfa Romeo has some kind of mythical pull over North American enthusiasts. So the hype over the return of the brand here, and the vehicle — the 4C sports car that’s going to lead that initiative — has been over the top. Geneva will be the first time we’ll see the production 4C, get a look inside its all-carbon-fibre interior and get the final specs of its turbo-four/dual-clutch autobox powertrain before the mid-engine car goes on sale later this year.

4. Rolls-Royce Wraith

Any new Rolls-Royce is a big deal. So we’re particularly interested in the new Wraith, a two-door coupe of the “entry-level” BMW 7 Series-based Ghost sedan. Shorter than the Ghost four-door, Rolls has already said the Wraith will be the “most powerful” model in its history, with rumours that its V12 will put out as much as 600 horsepower. Inside, we’ve been told to expect Phantom Grade leathers (from the topline model) and an open-pore wood finish called Canadel Paneling — whatever that is …

3. Lamborghini GT concept

It’s the 50th anniversary of famed Italian supercar maker Lamborghini this year, so as part of the celebrations, Lambo is giving itself a present in Geneva, a front-engine grand tourer concept, the first such Lamborghini since the 1978 Espada. Targeted at arch-rival Ferrari’s front-engine F12 GT, we have little information to go by except the concept will have two doors, two seats and the V12 from the 700 horsepower Aventador, mounted front-mid-ships. However, we expect all-wheel-drive and carbon-fibre construction as well.

2. 2014 BMW M3

BMW’s high-performance M division has been taking it on the chin for watering down some its vehicles lately, like the X5 M and X6 M SUVs. But it can win back some credibility with the concept version of the M3 scheduled for Geneva. The new M3 will have four doors, as the two-door will be renamed M4. And instead of a V8, a new, turbocharged, inline six-cylinder engine with 444 horsepower will be matched to either a six-speed manual transmission or to an eight-speed dual clutch autobox.

1. Ferrari Enzo successor

Its internal codename is F150. But the successor to the 2002 Ferrari Enzo — considered the ultimate supercar from the famed Italian company that bore the founder’s name — is no truck. Hey, no pressure then! We’re expecting the F150 (or whatever they end up calling it) to be the most extreme, street-legal Ferrari ever. Still. questions abound. Will it have the speculated V12 engine aided by Ferrari’s F1 HY-KERS hybrid system? Will it really end up with the rumoured 1,000 horsepower?